These ultra-Crispy Fried Eggplant rounds are cooked until they’re soft and tender on the inside, with a crunchy and golden brown crust. Coated with a gluten-free breading, they are one delicious appetizer that will satisfy your fried food cravings.

❤️ Why You’ll Love This Keto Fried Eggplant Recipe

• Easy alternative to eggplant parmesan
• Crispy coating on the outside, tender and moist inside
• Served with Keto Marinara Sauce for dipping
• Gluten-free flavorful breading

If you’re looking for a healthy alternative to your typical breaded and fried eggplant, look no further! The coating on this recipe is completely gluten-free but it creates that classic, mouth-watering crispy crust that is so good, everyone in the family will absolutely love it…even those not on Keto or a low carb diet.

Even the kids will love them because they make the ideal dipping food. They’re awesome served in marinara, but you can serve them with any of your favorite dipping sauces.

Try them with this Zesty Dipping Sauce for a fun twist. And, for all the die-hard honey mustard fans out there, you just have to try them with drool-worthy homemade Keto Honey Mustard Sauce.

If you’ve never tried eggplant before, this super easy crispy fried eggplant recipe is going to win you over. After the very first bite, you’ll be looking for more great ways to make it. These Eggplant Fries and this Keto Eggplant Parmesan are two other really popular recipes you may want to try!

What’s in Fried Eggplant

• Eggplant
• Almond flour
• Parmesan cheese
• Ground pork rinds
• Eggs
• Dried parsley
• Dried basil
• Garlic salt
• Ground black pepper
• Olive oil
• Keto Marinara Sauce

*Exact measurements are listed in the recipe card below.

How to Make Fried Eggplant

Peel and slice the eggplant to your desired thickness.  Mine were between 1/4-1/2 inch thick.

Place the eggplant on paper towels, then add some salt over the tops.  Allow to sit for 15 minutes while you prepare the breading.

Add the almond flour, parmesan cheese, pork rinds, parsley, basil, garlic salt and ground black pepper to a mixing bowl.

Whisk together until well combined and any lumps are broken up.

In a separate mixing bowl, add in the eggs and beat them.

Take each piece of the eggplant and dip it into the egg, allowing any excess to drip off.

Dip the eggplant into the breading mixture and lightly coat all sides.  Don’t press into the breading, you’re not looking for a thick breading.

Repeat the process until all slices are breaded, then set aside.

Heat a large skillet to medium and add in the oil.  Once the oil is hot (test with a little piece of the breading), fry the eggplant for a few minutes on each side.

Once cooked, set the eggplant on paper towels to drain some of the oil.

Serve with (optional) Keto Marinara Sauce on the side or enjoy all on their own.

Should You Salt Eggplant Before Frying?

Salting eggplant slices helps to draw out the moisture and prevents them from becoming soggy. But it also helps take any bitterness out from the seeds.

You only have to let them sit for about 15 minutes and it is time well spent. The results will give you tender fried eggplant in the center.

Tips for The Buying Eggplant

Weight: When selecting eggplant from the farmer’s market or grocery store, pick it up and feel it. It should feel heavy for its size.

Shine: Fresh eggplant will have a smooth and shiny skin.

Firmness: The overall texture of an eggplant should be firm when you slightly press on it. Avoid any that have soft spots, indentations or marred places.

Size: One of the keys to not having bitter tasting eggplant is to go for the smaller and more slender ones. The larger eggplants grow the more bitter they can become. It’s better to buy two small ones, than it is to buy a huge one.

Stem: A sign that the eggplant was recently picked is the stem will still be green. If the stem is really brown and dried out, it’s best to pick another one as that’s a sign it’s not at its peak freshness.

How Do You Make Crispy Eggplant Keto?

There are a few of things you can do to make sure the crust on your fried eggplant stays crispy.

• The first thing you can do is to allow a little extra time to salt in advance to draw out the excess water. This will allow the egg wash to stick and help the coating stay well while frying.

• Another tip for making crispy fried eggplant is to not skip the pork rinds or the parmesan cheese. Almond flour alone will soak up the egg and will brown up, but it will not have the crispiness you’re looking for.

• Also, anytime you’re frying anything, you should always start off with oil that is just hot enough to cause a good sizzle, but not burn the crust before the inside has had time to cook. You can test the oil simply by dropping a speck of the almond flour mixture into the skillet to see if the oil sizzles and bubbles up around it.

Does Eggplant Need to be Soaked Before Frying?

Eggplants are like sponges and will soak up anything you soak them in. Some people say that you should always soak eggplant in milk before cooking it to take the bitterness out of it. Personally, I’ve never done this before and can’t recommend it.

Is Fried Eggplant Good for You?

Eggplants themselves are a very nutrient-dense fruit. Yes! I said fruits, did you know that? They are a rich source of many vitamins and minerals. They are also a high-fiber, low-calorie food that’s great in most any diet. If you want to learn more about the benefits of eggplant, check out this article on Healthline.

Can You Eat Fried Eggplant on Keto? Is Fried Eggplant High in Carbs?

If you are on a low carb diet like Keto, you’ll love to know that for an entire one-cup serving of cooked eggplant, there are 8 total carbs with 2.5 grams of fiber. That brings the net carbs to just under 6 grams!

To keep the carbs low when frying it, you’ll want to use a low carb “breading” like in this recipe. Traditional flour is very high in carbs and can be inflammatory for a lot of people.

More Keto Side Dish Recipes

• Shredded Brussels Sprouts
• Creamed Spinach
• Grilled Broccolini
• Green Beans Almondine
• Cheesy Mashed Cauliflower